This was disclosed to journalists on Wednesday February 28, 2018 in Accra, by the Minister of Interior, Ambrose Derry.

According to him, the UN granted the request for the Ghanaian delegation to also independently investigate the issue.

[contextly_sidebar id=”IQZsAOQQlPxTptOhVAmmMyTXOb0xfPex”]“The UN has agreed that our team should go there and investigate,” he said.

Some members of a Ghanaian police unit working with the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan are being investigated for breaching the UN’s sexual exploitation and abuse rules.

The unit in question has also been recalled.

The investigation into the conduct of the officers began after reports that they were having transactional sex with women living in one of the protection camps with gifts or favours given in exchange for the encounters.

Mr. Derry, who spoke to journalists on the sidelines of a wreath laying ceremony held for servicemen who lost their lives in the February 28 crossroad shooting, said he was hit hard by reports of the alleged sexual misconduct by the Ghanaian soldiers.

“As the Minister for Interior the allegation hit me hard… It is still under investigation and we will be the first to bring to book any Ghanaian we find who has breached the rules, and the UN allowing us to independently investigate the matter shows that they believe we are going to contribute constructively to it,” he added.

We’ll cooperate with UN probe – Police

The Police Administration had promised to cooperate fully with the UN in the investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct.

In a statement released by the Police after the news broke, the Police Administration conveyed “its fullest cooperation and support to investigate the alleged sexual exploitation and abuse case.”

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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The unit in question has also been recalled, according to a statement from the UN Mission.

The investigation into the conduct of the officers began after reports that they were having transactional sex with women living at one of the protection camps, with gifts or favours given in exchange for the encounters.

“On 8 February, a complaint was received alleging that members of the Ghanaian Formed Police Unit (FPU) were engaging in sexual activity with women living at the UN Protection of Civilians site in Wau. An investigation was immediately launched by the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), an independent office within the United Nations.”

“The information received indicates that some members of the FPU allegedly engaged in transactional sex. This is a clear breach of the UN and UNMISS Code of Conduct which prohibits sexual relationships with vulnerable individuals, including all beneficiaries of assistance,” the statement outlined.

However, the statement was keen to note that allegations brought against the Ghanaian peacekeepers in question were not reflective of the whole contingent of Ghanaian peacekeepers.

“On the whole, Ghanaian peacekeepers and police serving with UNMISS have made an excellent contribution to the protection of civilians and building of durable peace in South Sudan. It is very disappointing that the behaviour of some police officers risks staining that record of service as well as the Mission’s reputation.”

Find below the full statement

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan has recalled a unit of police officers from Wau and confined them to base after a preliminary investigation into allegations of sexual exploitation.

UNMISS has a zero tolerance, no excuses, and no second chances approach to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). Our priority is to put the victims’ rights and dignity first and ensure that there is transparency and accountability for such actions.

That is why the Mission has taken immediate action to protect and support potential victims and witnesses in this case while a full investigation is carried out.

On 8 February, a complaint was received alleging that members of the Ghanaian Formed Police Unit (FPU) were engaging in sexual activity with women living at the UN Protection of Civilians site in Wau. An investigation was immediately launched by the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), an independent office within the United Nations.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, David Shearer, and other Mission leaders, were briefed on the preliminary investigation on the morning of 22 February. An immediate decision was made to remove the 46-member police unit from their duty stations inside the POC that afternoon. The unit was fully withdrawn from the Wau base to Juba over the next two days.

The information received indicates that some members of the FPU allegedly engaged in transactional sex. This is a clear breach of the UN and UNMISS Code of Conduct which prohibits sexual relationships with vulnerable individuals, including all beneficiaries of assistance.

UNMISS has informed UN headquarters in New York of the allegations, which in turn notified the Member State that the matter was being investigated by the United Nations. There is no indication that this behaviour is more widespread within the Mission.

UNMISS has over 17,000 peacekeeping personnel including 13,000 soldiers and 1500 police who carry out the Mission’s mandate to build durable peace and protect civilians in South Sudan where there has been widespread conflict. Any act of SEA undermines the critical work of the Mission and compromises its credibility with the people of South Sudan. It cannot and will not be tolerated.

All UNMISS personnel are in no doubt of the prohibition on SEA. All uniformed personnel are required to participate in SEA training at induction as well as within two weeks of deployment. Personnel have been given “no excuse” SEA cards to carry with them at all times, there are conduct and discipline focal points in each field location, daily SEA broadcasts are issued, and warnings are issued in speeches given by Mission leaders at all events.

On the whole, Ghanaian peacekeepers and police serving with UNMISS have made an excellent contribution to the protection of civilians and building of durable peace in South Sudan. It is very disappointing that the behaviour of some police officers risks staining that record of service as well as the Mission’s reputation.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The incident in the capital, Juba, last July resulted in a UN report which accused UN peacekeepers of failing in their duty to protect civilians.

It happened as rival forces in the civil war clashed in the city.

The soldiers’ lawyer said the allegations were untrue, Reuters news agency reports.

The incident happened in a rebel-controlled area, he added

Peace efforts have failed to bring an end to the three-and-a-half-year-old conflict, which has seen forces loyal to President Salva Kiir fighting troops who back former Vice-President Riek Machar.

The trial concerns an attack on the Terrain Hotel, home to aid workers from a number of international organisations.

Its manager, Mike Woodward, has been giving evidence at the military court in Juba, Reuters reports.

Between 50 and 100 soldiers entered the compound, looted the place and then raped five women, he is quoted as saying.

The defence lawyer says the compound was in a rebel-held part of the city, implying that government troops could not have been responsible.

Some of the victims have given harrowing testimony to the BBC. They spoke of what had happened to them and said their calls for help from the UN had gone unanswered.

A UN investigation backed their claims that peacekeepers had refused to respond when the compound was attacked.

The incident happened during three days of fighting in which at least 73 people were killed, including more than 20 internally displaced people who had sought UN protection. Two peacekeepers also died.

The government has been under pressure to tackle sexual violence against women, which is widespread, BBC South Sudan expert James Copnall says.

The overwhelming majority of victims are South Sudanese, and so far there seems to be little progress made in bringing the perpetrators of those crimes to justice.

In the civil war, tens of thousands of people have died and millions have been displaced.

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Source: BBC

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